After defeating Zephyr and his partner, we advanced to the quarter-finals—the Best 8—of the Tag-team Division. Only three more wins stood between us and the championship, and all of them were scheduled for today.
I’d managed to catch up with Zephyr and the others yesterday evening. Despite his loss, Zephyr was in high spirits. It seemed like he’d mostly wanted to test his mettle against us, so he was satisfied regardless of the outcome. He’d been cheerfully trying to drag Lowell out for drinks until Eina scolded him. We still had matches to fight today, after all. If there was going to be any drinking, it would have to wait until after the tournament.
My bout against Marl had been a valuable lesson. It proved that unlike monsters, skilled Adventurers possessed a high degree of adaptability—they weren't easily overcome. Still, I’d managed to defeat her without relying on my golems. That gave me a much-needed boost in confidence.
That said, our goal was the championship. In the quarter-finals, our opponents were bound to be formidable, and I didn't think it was wise to hold back anymore. It was time to lift the ban on my golems.
I planned to be creative with them, though. I considered golems a part of my own strength, but others often viewed them as external help. To ensure my prowess as a warrior was properly recognized, I needed to use them discreetly.
First up: the fourth match.
"Considering you’ve made it this far, you must be quite the veterans. However, once you face us Destruction Fighters—aaaaaaaah, what is this!?"
Ah, my bad.
I’d ordered an Air Golem to attack the moment the match began, but the opponent had insisted on starting his introductory speech. It ended up being a bit pitiful. He and his teammate were currently spinning through the air. I held up my hands, pretending to cast a spell, but in reality, the Air Golem was just putting them through a series of Giant Swings.
I glanced at Lowell; he simply gave a small nod. I took that as a sign not to worry about it. Besides, the guy had been far too careless during a live match.
Once their complexions turned pale, I signaled the golems to stop the attack. The released opponents were so dizzy they couldn't even stand, let alone fight. The match was called in our favor then and there.
Next up: the fifth match.
"We'll crush one of them first!"
"Yeah!"
I wondered if there would be another introductory speech, but it seemed these opponents weren't the talking type. The moment the match started, both of them charged straight at me. I appreciated the efficiency.
I pressed both hands to the ground and chanted. The spell activated before they could reach me. A wall of sand surged up from my fingertips. Of course, this wasn't just a Sand Wall; it was a Sand Golem. It was fluid, transforming into a wave that crashed toward them.
The wave was nearly as tall as I was. Since it fanned out to either side, their only option was to retreat. They backstepped in a circular arc, splitting up before trying to merge back in the center. It looked like they were planning to crash the two waves into each other to nullify them.
"What!?"
"Impossible!"
Unfortunately for them, what looked like two separate waves was actually a single golem. It wasn't going to vanish just because they collided.
Their movements faltered as the expected result failed to materialize. The golem’s massive wave didn't miss the opening and swallowed them whole. After being tumbled around, they ended up buried in the arena floor with only their heads sticking out. They struggled to free themselves but couldn't budge. They eventually surrendered, securing our spot in the finals.
Then, at last, the finals.
Our opponents were two muscular men wielding metal rods—clubs, I suppose. Dressed in purple scarves, they carried a distinct aura. They were wearing Warrior Class Garb. It seemed the warriors of the Giderde Clan had successfully fought their way to the top.
"So, you are the insolent fools seeking to set foot upon our clan's Sacred Ground?"
"We shall determine if you have the aptitude."
Both warriors charged toward Lowell and me.
"I’ll leave this to you," Lowell said.
"Okay."
We had a brief exchange before I pressed my hands to the dirt. I started with the same Golem Sand Tsunami I’d used in the previous round. The magic triggered before they could reach me, sending a towering wall of sand toward the Giderde warriors.
"Do not underestimate us! Haaaaah!"
They didn't run. With a thunderous roar, they swung their clubs simultaneously into the heart of the tsunami. The impact must have been incredible. The Sand Golem, which usually absorbed most physical blows, shattered instantly and regressed into mundane sand.
"Kuhahaha! Behold our might!"
"A true warrior can shatter even the sea itself if they focus their spirit!"
Technically it was a golem, not the sea, but their response had been the right one. If they’d run, it would have chased them indefinitely. Still, that strategy only worked if you had enough raw power to pulverize a golem in one go. These guys were the real deal.
However... weren't they being a bit too overconfident?
"Fuhahaha... Gwah!? What in the—"
"The ground is splitting!?"
As for what it was... well, it was still a golem.
To reveal the trick: I’d turned the entire arena floor into the face of a golem. It was a Giant Golem consisting of nothing but a head. They’d been swallowed by its mouth and were currently being "chewed" on. Not that it would actually eat them, of course.
Being a golem, it would have broken if they’d hit it with another concentrated strike. But being suddenly swallowed by the earth was a bit too much for their nerves. They panicked. In the end, they were tossed around inside the mouth until their desperate club swings accidentally knocked each other out. The golem spat them out, and the match was over.
I sighed. Even though I’d used my golems, was it really okay for the finals to end like that? Well, even if it wasn't, it was a bit late for a do-over.